It isn’t until Monday that Daniel and Kara are seen again, Monday at lunch I ask Kara how was the rest of your weekend. Kara giggles, and says, “We set a date what are you guys doing on Christmas?”
Chuckling I look at her and say, “I’m not sure maybe going to a wedding.”
Kara smiles brightly and says, “If it’s my wedding you were thinking of you may be going to, you would be right.”
I return her bright smile and say, “Congratulations I’ll love to be at your wedding.”
Kara says, “Actually it’s at 3 o’clock on Christmas Eve, I just got off the phone with Reverend Akins his church is available, but we’ll have to either use decorations they have or redecorate once were finished.”
Smiling I think aloud, “a Christmas theme wedding, that’s a pretty good idea to bad it’s not colder around here we can use a sled to take you to the reception.”
Kara laughs, “With as many geniuses we have in the family I’m sure you can figure it out, but don’t freeze the road.”
When Kathryn and Sam slides in beside me Kara says, “I was wondering if you two were going to get my message and show up.”
Kathryn says warmly, “You know I’ll be here for you.”
Kara giggles, “I was just wondering about you getting the message.” The two of them giggle.
Sam steals a bite from my plate and makes a face before she says, “Daddy that isn’t very good.”
Kathryn giggles, “We’ll go down town and get something to eat Sam that’s better.”
Kara and I immediately stand up with the trays, as Kathryn giggles. I say, “I don’t care if there’s rumors are not if you’re going to Bobby and Mary’s for lunch then we’re going too.”
Kara giggles, “I’ll call Daniel and have him meet us there.”
Kara calls Daniel, and Kathryn calls ahead having a table ready for us, we even place our orders and as soon as we walk in the table is being set. Daniel arrives just as we sit down, and he takes his place by Kara and the first thing that they share is a kiss. After Sam finishes her first mouthful she says, “Daddy I didn’t realize how good this is until tasting the cafeterias’ food.”
Mary’s oldest daughter having graduated last year giggles and says, “Princess Sam my Mom’s going to be very happy to hear that.”
Sam is smiling and says, “I love your Mom’s cooking. It’s always the best.”
We make it back in time, and Daniel drops off Kara and she gives him a long passionate kiss in front of a bunch of freshman Janet being one. Kathryn and I bump into Janet on her way to class she asked, “Who was that guy Kara was kissing?”
Kathryn says, “Just so you don’t start a rumor accidentally, Kara was kissing her fiancé Daniel.”
Janet says, “Sorry about that, but I have to tell Kara congratulations next class.”
Instead of going to the library I take Kathryn and Sam to study Hall with me. Sam is a little disappointed, but one of the girls from self-defense class is there and gives Sam a hug.
Kathryn and Sam watch as I help the students with many questions from different classes. Almost every subject in school we seem to go over and help several of the students who are having problems. Kathryn helps several as well that I would not have time to otherwise.
With the class work getting harder it’s easy for a student to either become distracted or simply not understand part of the subject. With the number of students in class is also easy for a teacher to miss that one student who doesn’t quite understand the subject. I would not say one of these students is less intelligent or less deserving. I would say they just become lost in a subject. It’s just too bad more educators are not available to help these students.
At the end of study hall Sam and Kathryn walk with me to the self-defense class. Sam gives me a tug and I pick her up onto my shoulders. Sam rides my shoulders through the halls and Kathryn hugs my arm, a lot of students give us smiles as we walk past.
Arriving in class I put Sam down and she’s nearly swarmed by the young girls, they all want to give Sam a hug and Sam loves the attention and gives them as much back as she gets. Kathryn surprises me when she pulls out a workout outfit for Sam. Sam takes the outfit she goes with the girls to the locker room to change. Giving Kathryn a questioning look she says, “The principles said as long as she has parental permission she could join the class. Here’s the permission slip you need to sign.”
Chuckling I signed beside Kathryn’s name and take it into the office to file with the others. Sam surprises some of the girls as she goes through the steps of the Karta without problems. I’m teaching a new throw to the class, Sam’s learned it over a month ago so I bring her up to the front of the class to show how a smaller person is not at a disadvantage using this move. I explained the steps of the throw and Sam copies my moves exactly. I have the class go through the movements several times before actually attempting it.
Once they have it down, I step back up to the front of the class I say, “I’m going to act as the attacker and Sam will defend herself.” I give Sam a nod and she returns it. I make the movements of an attacker wielding a knife, Sam goes to the movements of the throw and I fly over her head and land on my ass further than she’s ever thrown me. The class is absolutely silent as I lie still for a moment. I raise my head and turned to look at Sam. She only grins at me when she knows I’m okay and sees mine. She runs and jumps onto my chest and asked loudly, “Daddy did I do it right.”
Grinning up at Sam I say, “Yes you did Sam.” When Kathryn is the first to crack up the rest of the class begins to laugh.
Ron and Reese have shown up and are watching from the bleachers. Ron says, “If I hadn’t seen it myself I wouldn’t believe it.”
When I stand and explain to the class I teach you the moves that even a smaller lighter person can defend themselves against a larger attacker. Sam here is less than a fourth my weight, and half my body height if she can throw me, you should be able to do the same once you learn the move. The look that comes across the students face is what a teacher truly works for, not pride or happiness it was a look of confidence a look that said I can do that too.
We work a little longer, then I have them do stretches and Sam helps me lead the other students. I send the students off to the showers, but I hold Sam back. I ask, “Sam can you help me show that same move to the advents class in about fifteen minutes?” Sam grins and shakes her head eagerly yes. Then I tell her, “You don’t need a shower yet, you can go through the advents class with me.” Sam has a wide smile as she gives me a hug. Then she runs up and talks to her Mom.
Reese is giggling when she asks, “Sam was it fun to throw your Dad like that.”
Sam looking her godmother in the eyes says, “At first I was a little afraid that I might have hurt Daddy. When he looked at me with that grin that said he was proud of me it felt really good.”
Kara coming in the class seen Sam in workout clothing and catching Sam’s answer is confused. She asks, “Sam, are you taking class with us?”
Sam turning to her aunt with a bright smile says, “Daddy wants me to show you guys a move. He just taught it to the last class.”
Kara leaves to get dressed as Sam cuddles up in Kathryn’s lap or what’s left of it. At four and a half months along Kathryn’s lap seems to be disappearing more each day. Amanda seems to be active a lot more each day as well. As Sam leans against her Mommy the baby kicks and Sam begins to giggle, Sam says, “Amanda is trying to get my attention Mommy.”
Kathryn giggles saying, “She has been moving around ever since I started laughing.”
Sam giggles, “I guess you woke her up Mommy.”
Several of the girls once dressed come by to speak to Sam and Sam tells them that she’s joining them for the class today. Janet shakes her head in disbelief. Kara giggles, before she says to Janet, “Watch Sam as she goes through the Karta.”
At the beginning of the class I start them on the Karta and notice as Janet watches Sam closely. After the class is warmed up, I asked if they remember the move and all but two girls Janet and another raise their hand. I ask the class, “Do you feel confident doing the throw? Only a few lower their hands, I then ask, “Against someone who’s four times your weight and twice your height?” The rest of the class lowers their hands.
Only Sam holds her hand up. A few students in the class begin to giggle. I give Sam a reassuring smile and asked if she’s ready, Sam shakes her head and goes into her stance. The class is watching although some still giggle. I have backed us a little closer to the edge giving Sam a little more room and so she didn’t throw me nearly off the pads again. When I make my attack Sam’s move is smooth and fluid and I go flying overhead against it still land near the edge of the pads. Sam has thrown me a good twelve feet. I lay still to a silent gym. After giving the moment for the realization to sink in I set up an open my arms for Sam. Sam practically flies into my embrace with a wide smile.
I stand holding Sam as I address the class by asking “Now who believes that you can defend yourself from someone much larger?”
When Sam raises her hand every single hand goes up. The look of confidence spreads throughout the class and Sam created the effect I truly wanted. Pairing them up afterwards for some reason no one wants Sam is a partner. I happily take her as my partner. We work through several throws, and I have a few of the smaller girls toss me. After their stretches I send them to the showers, and Kara takes Sam, Kathryn hands Sam a gym bag with a change of clothes for her and a towel.
Since football season is over, and I’m not part of the basketball team, I’m off for the day. A few of the class after showering bring Sam back dressed in her clean close. They swing Sam as they walk with her, Sam giggles as the girls swing her up and I catch her. Janet carries Sam’s bag.
Janet asks, “A lot of girls don’t understand why you don’t give belts for their skill levels?”
I state, “The dojo I trained in required classes that I wasn’t able to attend to allow the instructor to give out belts. I began training the students here four years ago, and no one has asked that question until today.”
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